Background
The first car to rally under the Subaru World Rally Team banner was the Legacy RS, which made its WRC debut on the Safari Rally in 1990, finishing 8th overall. Its best place finish of the year came on Rally Australia when Possum Bourne secured 4th overall. However, it is the 1991 British Rally Championship that the car will be remembered for most, with Colin McRae in a Prodrive sponsored by Rothmans in a works specification.Having won the British Rally Championship in 1991 McRae was entered alongside Ari Vatanen on the Swedish round of the WRC in 1992 with the Subaru World Rally Team.
The Legacy’s only WRC victory was to be in the hands of Colin McRae on the 1993 New Zealand Rally, which was the last time a factory car appeared on a WRC event. Following the victory, the Legacy was retired and replaced by the newer, smaller and ultimately dominant Impreza.1993 saw Richard Burns drive a works specification Legacy Group A to overall championship victory making it three British Rally Championship titles in a row for this iconic car.
Per Eklund (nicknamed Pekka) is a Swedish rally and rallycross driver who had been active in motorsport since the 1960s. He recorded more than eighty starts in the World Rally Championship, scoring one victory and thirteen WRC podiums.
In Europe the Clarion Team Europe had been active in the rally scene since the mid 80’s, their cars sporting a distinctive yellow livery. In the early 1990s, Eklund spent two seasons driving for Clarion Team Europe. In 1991, he was driving Lancia Delta Integrale 16V in two WRC events, finishing 8th at Swedish Rally. In 1992, the team switched to Subaru Legacy RS. Eklund’s best result was 6th place at Swedish Rally. There are only 26 works Subaru Legacy’s that currently known to exist at this time.
This car
This car is an original Subaru RS recreation of the Clarion Team Europe car driven by Per Eklund in the 1992 RAC Rally and will be one of the first FIA approved Subaru Legacy’s built since the early 90’s works cars. It has been authentically built to group A specification by Prodrive engineers using 95% original ‘works’ period parts. The current owner has involved ex-Prodrive engineers to ensure a high level of attention to detail and exacting specifications. The car has competed in anger at numerous historic UK rally and demonstration events.
Technical Specification
Engine: 1994cc Boxer type flat 4 cylinder, 16 valves arranged in twin camshafts per head.
Induction type: Turbo charged, ECS L-Jetronic multi point electronic fuel injection.
Drive train: 4WD 6 speed semi-automatic Hewland Gearbox. Hewland differential.
Suspension: Front & rear independent Mc Pherson reinforced struts and wishbones.
Power output: 330 BHP.